Sagger pin boxing machine



April 1, 1941. R. BOWER ETAL SAGGER PIN BOXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1936 m m L 9 4 4 H H N W.N O 6 E5 8R n .1 We? F BJ A TR wa 4562 L5! 4 4 4 A W 4 EW Y B %l 5 H G R Fla. 1

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 SAGGER PIN BOXING MACHINE Ralph Bower, Bowerston, Lewis P. Reese, Scio, and Albert John Wahl, Bowerston, Ohio; said Reese assignor to said Bower and said Wahl Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 116,932

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a sagger pin boxing machine. In the manufacture of potteryware, certain vitreous and semi-vitreous products such as household tableware are fired in receptacles commonly called saggers, the ware being stacked therein on pins inserted in holes in the internal walls of the sagger by hand incident to each filling.

Sagger pins come in a number of sizes ranging upwardly from two to three inches long by A" thick, usually triangular in section, and are shipped loosely packed in barrels or containers and delivered to the sagger placing table in trays or boxes holding sufficient for at least one filling. The pins are removed from the box by the placer and several arranged uniformly crosswise of the palm and gripped by closing the fingers thereover. The placer guides the pins into the sagger holes with the forefinger, the thumb acting as an ejector. A dextrous person can feed the pins with one hand whilst sorting and arranging with the other but a slower operator must stop placing while arranging the pins in the hand and in either case the operation of placing is slowed up because of the necessity of arranging the pins.

In the latter event, the time required to arrange the pins in the hand approximates the time required to place the same in the saggers and to expedite sagger filling and relieve the placer of arranging, the pins are stacked beforehand in the boxes by hand, requiring full time services of one individual to pace at sagger crew operating at a normal pace.

The object of our invention is to provide a machine by means of which sagger pins can be uniformly arranged in trays, quickly and with a minimum of manual intervention; another object is to eliminate the time loss in arranging the pins in the hand and, generally, to expedite sagger filling.

In its preferred embodiment our invention contemplates a machine having a stepped inclined series of corrugated plates arranged in endwise overlapping relation with an hopper juxtaposed relative one end from which the pins are fed. A uniform vibrating motion, selectively controlled as to frequency is imparted to the plates causing the pins to scatter and fall lengthwise into the channels formed by the corrugations, the pins gravitating therealong assisted by the vibration and dropping into the compartments of a pin tray which register with the outlet ends of the channels. The pins are shaken down in the box and when one side is filled the box is reversed and the other side filled, The pins are screened for broken bits incident to their travels.

Other objects and advantageous features of our invention will be noted in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the multiple plate vibrator;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a modified form of feeder;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the tray end of the machine and;

Fig. 5 shows a filled tray and Figure 6a hopper loading device.

With reference to Fig. l, the numeral l designates a frame having four. resilient uprights 2 anchored thereon which support an open ended shaker frame 3. Inside the frame 3 are arranged a plurality of plates 5, 6 and l inclined slightly to the horizontal either welded or securely bolted in place, the top plate 1 preferably being perforated for the purpose of screening the pins. The plates are arranged in endwise overlapping but vertically stepped relation with the channels 8, formed by the corrugations in lengthwise registration so that the pins after having fallen into a channel may gravitate therealong from plate to plate toward the lower or discharge end of the chutes.

The frame is oscillated on the .webs 4 by motor 9 controlled by a rheostat ID for controlling the frequency of vibration and consequently, the speed with which the pins are scattered, screened, arranged and deposited in the tray. This adjustment is also advantageous inasmuch as different speeds may be desired for diiferent size pins, The motor drives a sprocket shaft I I preferably through conventional belt l2 and pulley l4 connections having a one to one ratio on which is keyed an eccentric crank or cranks l5, the rod or rods l6 being pivotally attached at I! to the base of frame 3. The stroke is relatively short and intended to give a high frequency oscillation with a minimum of lineal travel. While an eccentric is shown, other devices may be used for the purpose of oscillating the frame with equal efficacy and the motion of the box may be sidewise, vertical, oscillatory, rotational or a combination of any of these motions. Obviously, a universal joint could be installedat I I and the rod l6 given a vertical movement coincident with its horizontal reciprocatory 1 stroke.

An inclined chute I8 is located below the perforated plate I and discharges broken bits at the side of frame 3 into a basket or other receptacle. This plate I, may, if desired, be corrugated as of and consequently the rate of feed of the pins.

The motor drives the belt roll shaft 27 through belts I2 and pulleys l4 connections. The discharge end of belt 24 is juxtaposed relative to the left hand end of the screen I and as shown, the

pins are deposited on the screen at a speed commensurate, of course, with the rate of travel ofthe belt. For larger pins the belt may be slowed down and likewise the frequency of oscillation of the frame 3. v I

In place of a belt 24, a plate may be utilized to feed the pins. The plate is reciprocated by an eccentric crank 16 driven by motor 26, and is supported on rollers 3 I. The lead end of the plate would, of course, overhang the screen 1 in proportion to'the length of the stroke of the plate.

At the right hand end of frame 3 is a pin box supporting frame 311 mounted on resilient spring steel uprights 40 preferably bolted to the frame 3a and to the machine base. This frame is adapted to support the pin box 42 in centered and locked position relative to the discharge end of a curved plate 43 and to be vibrated in synchronism with frame 3 to shake the pins down in compartments 44. The box 42, in which is disposed a demountable grid 45 which divides the box into a series of compartments along each wall, Fig. 4, is held against vertical and longitudinal displacement by a bail 46 and a pair of resilient end clamps 41 pivotally mounted on the frame. The box is held against transverse displacement by a backstop 48 and a locking clamp 49. To oscillate the box, a drive is taken off shaft II by chain 50 which rotates sprocket shaft 5| driving crank 1 5a and rod IBa, the connections being the same as on frame 3 and adaptable to the various motions therein described.

Optionally, the pins may be gravitated directly intothe compartments of the box from plate 5 or as shown a curved corrugated plate 43 may be inserted which tends to cause the pins to assume more of a horizontal position when falling into the box, thus preventing vertical misalignment in the compartments.

In operation the hopper is filled with loosely packed pins, a box clamped in place on frame 3a. The speed of travel of belt 24 is adjusted to that desired and the frame 3 set into vibration at the desired frequency. The pins fall onto the first plate in loosely packed order and are caused to fall, by the shaking of the plate, from the ridges of the corrugations into the valleys and are gravitated along, assisted by the vibratory motion, in the direction of their long axis over the perforated plate where they are screened for broken pieces and bits and are finally directed by the contiguous grooves into the cells in the box, Plates 5, 6 and I could, if desired, be replaced by one continuous plate. When all of the compartments along one side of the box are filled, the box is reversed and the compartments along the other side filled. The operator may assist in filling the compartments by brushing the hand back and forth. A basket or other receptacle can-be placed under'the frame to catch the pins knocked aside. The rapidity with which the pins are arranged and chuted into the compartments makes this loss negligible. When both rows of compartments are filled, the box is replaced by an empty and the grid removed from the filled box leaving the pins neatly stacked, Fig. 5, along each wall transversely of the box with a center aisle between enabling the placer to conveniently insert the fingers and pick up a handful of pins. If desired, the member 43 may be hinged and made extensible for the purpose of filling the rear compartments without reversing the box 42.

An apparatus for charging the hopper is shown in Fig. 6. This is a turntable device designed to hold a large reserve supply of pins graded as to size which will save time for the operator by eliminating hand charging and will conserve floor space around the machine. This apparatus 00m prises a table 52, rotatably supported on a center post 53, having a plurality of bins 54 arranged in spaced relation. Each bin has a hollow discharge 55 and closure 56. The table is elevated with relation to the hopper which is spotted in line with the discharge openings 55. A latch as at 5'! may be provided adjacent each bin to lock the table during filling of the hopper or bins.

Obviously, the machine can be employed in boxing sagger pins at the source, that is at the pin factory. In this event it may be more convenient to box and ship the pins in convenient cartons rather than loosely packed in barrels.

While we have shown and described our invention in a form which is preferred, modifications I will occur to those familiar with the art and this invention is intended to cover such modifications wherein they come within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In the manufacture of potteryware, a sagger pin boxing machine having a shaker frame, means for vibrating said-frame, a plurality of inclined channelled members arranged in longitudinal alignment but in stepped relation with the ends thereof overlapping supported by said frame, a pin box support, means for locking pin boxes thereon, a hopper juxtaposed relative to said channeled members, a belt pin feeder for travelling pins onto said channeled members the discharge end of said belt being elevated relative to said channeled members and arranged to feed directly onto said channeled portion thereof from an elevated position, said pins being shaken into the valleys of the channels by the vibration of said members and means for vibrating said pin box support.

2. Apparatus for boxing sagger pins which comprises, in combination, a hopper for receiving pins to be boxed in loosely packed order, means for feeding said hopper with pins, a shaker plate arranged adjacent the discharge end of said hopper having a plurality of corrugations extending in the direction of the length of the plate and adapted to receive pins from said hopper in loosely packed order, a second plate. having a plurality of corrugations arranged below and at the discharge end of said firs-t named plate with the corrugations of both of said plates in stepped but registering relation, means for vibrating both plates so as to cause said pins to arrange themselves in the valleys of the corrugations with their long axis in the direction of the length of said-corrugations and fall from plate to plate, means for screening said pins, a receptaclesupport arranged adjacent the discharge end said corrugations and means for clamping a receptacle to said support.

3. Apparatus for boxing sagger pins which comprises in combination, a hopper for receiving sagger pins in loose order said hopper having a discharge opening, a plurality of corrugated plates arranged at different levels and inclined to the horizontal with the channels in vertical registry, the ends of the plates being in overlapping relation, said plates being arranged to receive pins discharged from said hopper, means for vibrating said plate comprising, a crank and means for driving said crank, means for screening said pins arranged in registration with said plate and over which said pins are adapted to pass in traveling from the hopper to the said corrugated plate, a chute for receiving screenings and directing the same to a point of deposit, a frame on which a support is located for a pin receptacle, a support on said frame and means for vibrating said last named support in synchronism with said plate to thereby shake said pins down in said pin receptacle.

4, In a sagger pin boxing machine, an inclined pin receiving and distributing means, a pin feeder located adjacent one end of said means and adapted to feed pins thereonto from elevated position, means for vibrating said distributing means, said distributing means comprising a. plurality of vertically spaced corrugated plates forming a plurality of longitudinally extending channels with portions of each channel arranged at difierent levels to permit the pins to fall vertically at predetermined points during their passage down the inclined channels, the ridges of said channels and said channels being unobstructed and means for supporting a pin receiving means adjacent the discharge end of said distributing means.

5. In a sagger pin boxing machine, an inclined pin receiving and distributing means, a pin feeder located adjacent the upper end of said distributing means and having means for regulating the rate of feed of said pins, means for vibrating said distributing means together with means for regulating the rate of vibration thereof, said distributing l means comprising, a plurality of plates arranged in endwise stepped inclined relation, each plate having a plurality of longitudinal channels the adjacent ends of which are located at different levels to permit the pins to fall vertically at various zones along their respective paths of travel down the inclined distributing means and means for supporting a pin receiving means adjacent the discharge edge of said distributing means.

6. In a sagger pin boxing machine, an inclined pin receiving and distributing means, a pin feeder, means for vibrating said distributing means together with means for varying the rate of vibration thereof, said distributing means providing a plurality of pin channels having portions thereof disposed at different levels to permit the pins to fall vertically at difierent zones in their passage down the distributing means.

7. In a sagger pin boxing machine, an inclined pin receiving and distributing means having a plurality of longitudinal channels arranged with stepped portions so that the pins will fall vertically from one zone of the channels to another, means for screening the pins incident to the passage thereof along said channels, a pin feeder and means for vibrating said distributing means, said channels being unobstructed throughout the length thereof.

8. In a sagger pin boxing machine, a pin receiving and distributing means comprising a plurality of plates arranged at difierent levels said plates being provided with channels, the ends of which are in registry although lying at difierent levels to provide a continuous passage with a vertical drop between plates, means for vibrating said distributing means, a support for a pin receptacle adjacent the discharge end of said distributing means and means for feeding pins to said distributing means.

9. A. machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein means are provided for vibrating said support for said pin receptacle.

RALPH BOWER. LEWIS P. REESE. ALBERT JOHN WAHL. 

